Meh. It's Lorena, so I'm sure it's ok.

Watch what happens to the cops charged in Minneapolis. One of them is already out on bail and it is rumored the perpetrator is cutting a deal with prosecutors. No doubt the police union is helping define the terms. Unions deliver for their members and have big bankrolls for contributing to expensive political election and re-election campaigns. Then they look for "consideration" when laws are being crafted by politicians. Sometimes it gets too embarrassing, so politicians caught in the glare sometimes return contributions or donate them to some charity.

Actually, it's not any different from the powerful teachers union. San Diego Unified School District did not lift an academic finger for six weeks this spring after schools closed down because of the pandemic. Only after unionist School Board trustee Richard Barrera quietly worked out new terms for teachers' wages and working conditions did the Superintendent of Schools announce "distance-learning" would commence, entailing minimal work hours for teachers -- and replacing classrooms, curriculum, attendance-taking and grades. Ditto for Fall 2020. Initially there was a threat that school would not open at all, but now it's all official silence until the State budget is set and, according to Barrera, acceptable levels of funding are found that will include a 2% cost of living increase for teachers.

Unionized cops, unionized teachers -- but the public interest is not served. Maybe cops and teachers should be serving the greater good rather than themselves. It might free our legislators to work in the public interest too.

Unions are the only voice that employees have. It is not the fault of the unions that that the "other" side has no concept on how to negotiate. An agreement between an employer and employees is called a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The operative word is collective. Both sides have input. Union representatives are elected by their membership and are expected to represent them in all aspects of employment. Don't blame the unions for representing their members fault the corrupt politicians and weak negotiators. Non-union workers are "at will" and can be fired for any reason or no reason at any time except for race, religion, etc. The only difference between an at will employee and a union employee is a contract. We all deal in contractual agreements be it a car load, mortgage, rent, credit card, etc. I have never understood why an employee would not want to have an employment contract. Many employment law firms, unions and government agencies are contacted by at will employees after they have been terminated wanting "justice". Like insurance no one needs a union until they do.

Historically, the most effective form of leverage that unions have with employers is the strike. Teachers and nurses shouldn't be allowed to strike. You're holding students and patients hostage.